YMCA getting new logo, shifting focus
YMCA getting new logo, shifting focus
Dayton Daily News
By Nathan Waggenspack, Staff Writer
July 24, 2010
DAYTON The YMCA of Greater Dayton will be undergoing changes to meet with its new brand strategy starting in 2011.
The strategy, which focuses on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, was announced by the YMCA of the USA July 12.
YMCAs across the country are expected to fully transition to the new brand within five years. In Dayton, the process will begin after Jan. 1, 2011.
While YMCAs have been involved in youth and health programs for a long time, YMCA of Greater Dayton President Tim Helm said this change will provide a clearer focus on the Ys mission and make the community more aware of that focus.
Its really exciting to me, I think its a really, really good thing to do, Helm said. I applaud the national YMCA for taking this step.
Helm said the changes stem from two years of research on how people perceive the YMCA. The results showed most people did not understand what a YMCA did in the community. The change has come to help increase the communities understanding and awareness, and create a more unified nationwide YMCA brand.
Before we had a lot of Ys doing a lot of great things, including here in Dayton, but it was pretty fragmented, he said.
Along with the new strategy, the YMCA unveiled a new logo, which embraces the organizations nickname, the Y.
The new strategy will emphasize nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nations health and well-being and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors, according to the companys press release.
Helm said the visible changes with the logo on buildings, signs and online will be the most significant early in the transition. Over the next few years he said he expects to see more of a shift in program focus, but could not give specifics on those programs.